Eskom cuts power to defaulting Free State municipalities

Johannesburg - Residents of the Tokologo, Masilonyana and Nala municipalities in the Free State will face power cuts due to the councils' failure to honour their debt payment agreements with Eskom, the power utility said on Tuesday.

''The next payments for Tokologo, Masilonyana and Nala Local municipalities were due on 13 July 2018. The municipalities have failed to honour their payment agreements and have left Eskom with no other option but to interrupt bulk electricity supply. Scheduled supply interruptions will continue on 18 July 2018,'' skom said in a statement.

''Notwithstanding the indicative times for the interruption of electricity supply, Eskom may, upon fifteen calendar days’ notice, serve the right to disconnect electricity entirely and indefinitely should the electricity debt situation not improve.''

Municipal electricity debt to Eskom has swelled to over R13 billion. Most of the owing municipalities are in the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.

The power utility has vowed to recoup monies owed, signing debt repayment agreements with councils. Municipalities that defaulted on the binding agreements continue to experience power supply interruptions.